Stylistic Features in the Translation of George Eliot’s The Lifted Veil  into Arabic

Laila  Mudaghmesh; Areej  Allawzi

doi:10.35516/hum.v50i4.5640

Authors

Laila Mudaghmesh Department of English Language and Literature, School of Foreign Languages, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
Areej Allawzi Department of English Language and Literature, School of Foreign Languages, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6226-8155

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35516/hum.v50i4.5640

Keywords:

Translation, stylistic features, George Eliot, The Lifted Veil

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims at examining the translatability of George Eliot’s employed in The Lifted Veil. Thus, major stylistic features that pose problems in the translation process are discussed along with examples extracted from the source text and the target text. These stylistic features consist of idioms, figurative language and code-switching. The researcher suggests, as well, strategies and approaches to overcome these problems with the aim of delivering, closest possible, the contextual meaning of the aforementioned stylistic features while maintaining their natural flow.

Methods: a number of strategies listed by Baker (1992), Newmark (2001), Pierini (2007), Chesterman (1997), and Venuti (1995) are adopted. The researcher also employs Nida’s (1964) dynamic and formal equivalence approaches.

Results: The results of the study show that the stylistic difficulties stem from several reasons: cultural differences with regard to the use of metaphors and similes, allusive reference that may not function properly if it is not recognized by the target audience, and lastly, the researcher’s lack of comprehensive background of the Latin and French languages used in the novella.

Conclusions: It is found that rendering Eliot’s style into Arabic, while preserving its contextual purpose and natural flow is possible through the utilization of suitable strategies and approaches.

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